Sugoi Gustov shorts – £83.99
Considering the plethora of technical equipment out there, it never fails to surprise us how wrong some companies get it when it comes to the humble short.
Thankfully Sugoi are not one of these companies and have been knocking out nothing short of top-notch leg wear for years.
The Sugoi Gustov short needs little introduction. It’s been getting rave reviews for years, playing a large part in making the brand synonymous with good-looking, hard-wearing and lightweight technical wear.
Primarily designed for trail riding, first impressions are of a very lightweight, very baggy, well-ventilated short that looks the part.
As someone that’s more into the gravity aspect of our fine sport, even I was somewhat surprised by just how baggy these ‘baggies’ are. They certainly seemed looser than my old pair, which bit the dust back in ‘08 after years of abuse. Having said that I’ve had no issues with hooking up on steep descents or while hanging off the back over jumps, which could be down to the “seamless crotch gusset”.
Such is the high-level of ventilation on the Gustov’s they also double up as my tennis shorts. I have of course snipped the liner out, which is a reflection of the outer’s multipurpose nature, rather than any fault in what is a well-made and comfortable liner.
The sturdy double stitched seams of my previous pair outlived the fabric panels, which having survived years of wear and tear, crashes and a couple of trips to hospital, finally gave up the ghost on a Surrey hillside. This latest incarnation is again going strong and will no doubt be with me for a few years yet.
Complimenting the high-level of comfort, the Gustov’s sport an easily accessible Velcro waistband that can be adjusted on the fly so that you can loosen things up after that all important pub lunch. Deep, easy to reach pockets are another plus, allowing you to grab what you want without having to remove your gloves.
Verdict
Like Chris King headsets and XT cranks, the Gustov’s work and I won’t be trading them in any time soon. And as for the extra cost, they’ll more than pay for themselves a couple of years down the line when they’re still going strong.
Share